Apparatus for assembling frames



Jan. 17, 1939. H. w. NELJNHERZ APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING FRAMES OriginalFiled June 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i WW Jan 17, 1939. H. w. NEUNHERZ2,

' APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING FRAMES Original Filed Jufie ZO, 1955 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 17, 1939. H. w. NEUNHERZ APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLINGFRAMES Origina; Filed June 20, 1935 3 SheetsSheet 3 Patented Jan. 17,1939 UNITED STATES eaten? QFFIQE Original application June 20, 1935,Serial No. 27,614. Divided and this application Decemher 5, 1936, her 3,1938 2 Claims.

This is a division of my application Ser. No. 27,614, filed June 20,1935.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a machine for theconvenient, expeditious, and exact assembling of frames made up oflongitudinal and lateral members, each composed generally of two parts,as for example, a metal frame and a wooden box frame consisting of sidesand ends; to provide a machine by which wooden sides and ends can besecured in an absolutely definite relation to a four-sided frame ofmetal or wood without the use of screws or other fastening devices of aninexact nature; to provide means whereby a plurality of fasteningdevices, as rivets, are inserted in two pieces of materialsimultaneously so as to prevent the defiection of any of these fasteningdevices while being applied, as will be the case where screws areinserted individually in wood, thus affording an opportunity for thefirst screw to be put in at a slight angle, thus. throwing out theaccuracy of the whole assembly; and to provide an arrange ment of aplurality of riveting machines spaced at predetermined distances apartfor placing the rivets in the desired positions according to the abovementioned objects so that a studio couch frame and a bedding box frame,for example, can be assembled on the same series of machines.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is afront elevation, somewhat diagrammatic in form, illustrating a series ofriveting machines set up for the particular purpose of assembling astudio couch frame and a bedding box to go with it;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the clutch mechanism for starting the operation of ariveting machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan of some of the riveting machines showing how they aresecurely and accurately screwed together and to a wall;

Fig. 6 is a front View of the same;

Fig, 7 is a perspective view of a jig for accurately boring the woodenpart of the frame to secure absolute accuracy of the spaces between theholes;

Fig. 8 is a transverse 8-8 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the jig used for punching the holes inthe metal frame.

sectional view on the line Serial No. 114,427. Renewed Octo- Thisarrangement is provided for the purpose of riveting two pieces togetherin such a way that the riveting can be accomplished very expeditiouslyand with absolute accuracy and so that any two sets of such pieces canbe absolutely 5 alike. Couch frames, for example, can be made by thismethod with extreme accuracy so that they will all be absolutely alike,for the first time. The distances between rivets are previously designedto fit a set of riveting machines, as, I, 2, 10

5 and t, which are set up with their rivet heads certain accuratedistances apart.

The metal frames are punched in the proper places at exactly the rightdistances apart. The Wooden pieces are likewise bored at exactly the 15same distances apart. The machines shown cannot be tripped unless theseprior operations are performed exactly.

The frames shown are generally composed of an inner frame of angle ironsand outer boards 20 9. The inner frame is first riveted together byrivets so as to constitute a solid rectangular frame. Then the boards &are riveted to this frame individually, but not necessarily directlyfastened to each other.

In order to prepare for the finishing of the frame, one side at a timeof the metal frame is prepared by punching holes in at predetermineddistances apart. This is done by the use of a jig 35 having a series ofstationary punch bushings which, of course, are stationary.

The boards 9 are bored, one at a time, by the use of a boring jigcomprising a bench 41 on which the board is accurately located. Atemplate it is held in position by brackets 49. At 35 the same distancesapart as the bushings @6 are located on the template the same number ofboring bushings 55. Other bushings 5i are shown for other purposes. Aplurality of drills 52 are simultaneously brought down through thebushings M or 5i Thus in one stroke four holes may be bored in a woodenpiece to constitute the outer wall of the frame. The corresponding sideof the frame is punched with one stroke. The two sets of holes are atexactly equal distances apart.

The machines 6, 2, 3, etc. are fastened together by turnbuckles 55 androds 56 so that they can be rigidly and accurately connected and can beadjusted to preserve that accuracy. They are also rigidly and adjustablyconnected to a wall 50 5? behind by turnbuckles 58 and 59 in a similarWay.

Fig. 1 shows several riveting machines I, 2, 3,

t, 5 and 5 set up on a floor at certain predetermined distances apart.These distances are 55 very important and they are not uniformordinarily. Each one of these riveting machines is provided with a pilotpin 8 and they are set up with a definite horizontal distance betweenthe axes of the several pilot pins. These distances are selected so asto adapt this set-up of machines for doing whatever work may be desired,

In Fig. 1 a dotted frame 9 is shown which is placed on three of thepilot pins so that when the three plungers l come down they will insertthree rivets simultaneously in the frame. The frame preferably containstwo pieces, the outer frame 9 and an inner frame. Rivets fasten thesetwo pieces together in certain definitely located places. In theposition shown the frame extends down below the floor line through anopening (2 in the floor.

These riveting machines do not constitute in themselves a part of thisinvention. A well known form of riveting machine is shown in which theplunger I0 is operated from a clutch 13 which can be set into operationby a hand lever M. or by a foot treadle l5. The foot treadle is pivoted,as indicated in Fig. 3, and held up by a spring Hi. When it isdepressed, it pulls down a rod l! which operates the clutch 13 toconnect up the mechanism for operating the plunger it] with a clutchsection I8. This clutch section is fixed with respect to a pulley i9operated by a power belt 20. On the same shaft as the member 58 and i9is a pinion 2| which operates a belt 22 for feeding the rivets. Theother parts of the riveting machine are not shown.

For the purpose of permitting the riveting operations to be performedsimultaneously, as indicated inF'ig. 1, a bar 2a is laid across three orfour of the treadles l and each of these treadles is provided with anoscillatable hook 25 which, when placed in the position shown in Fig. 3,will cause these treadles to work together by the de pression of onetreadle. By reversing the hook 25 each machine can be operatedindividually. In the instance illustrated the depression of any one ofthe three treadles of the machines 2, 3 and 4 will result in thesimultaneous descent of their three plungers Ill and the simultaneousriveting together of the end members of which the frame 9 is composed.

It will be understood that when the frame 9 is turned a quarter of theway around, its side will rest on four pilot pins of the four machinesi, 2, 3, and 4, but the operation will be substantially the same. It maybe stated further that the two machines 5 and 6 are located at adefinite space from each other different from that of any other machinesand that the space between the central lines of the machines 4 and 5 isa still different dimension. These two machines 5 and 6 are used inmaking another frame but in the same way as that previously described.

In this case a frame is provided which comprises at the top the angleiron internal frame and the wooden frame 9 outside it. The machines 5and 6 are shown as set up at proper distances from the machine 4 formaking the bedding box frame. The distance apart of the machines 4 and 5is the distance between two rivets in the sides of the bedding boxframe. The

distance between the machines 5 and 6 correspondingly is equal to thedistance between two rivets in the ends thereof.

It will be seen that by this machine various kinds of frames consisting,not only of one set of sides and ends, but having another rigid framefor connecting said sides and ends, can be formed expeditiously and withabsolute exactness.

This invention is capable of use in making frames of other kinds thanthose specifically illustrated and, in fact, is capable of a variety ofuses for forming frames or corresponding parts of various articles. Thenumber of riveting machines employed will depend, of course, on thecomplication of the article produced and in many cases one of themachines can be eliminated if the distance apart of the rivets in thedifferent frames can be made duplicates of each other. The first fourmachines can be employed alone for the manufacture of a single frame andthe other two machines will not then be necessary.

Frames made by this machine are not only exactly alike, as they comefrom the machines, but wooden frames connected in this way are muchstronger and more rigid than they could be made by fastening the woodenpieces directly together by means of screws or other fastening devices.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:-

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of aplurality of separate complete riveting machines, each having a pilotpin and riveting plunger at the top, said pilot pins being located atpredetermined distances apart, with the pilot pins in alignment, saidpilot pins engaging in preformed openings in a single piece of workconsisting of a wood and a metal frame to locate the two frames withrespect to said riveting plungers and enable the plungers to unite thewood and metal, a treadle for each riveting machine, means at the bottomfor connecting each treadle with the plunger for operating it, a barlocated in contact with all the treadles, and latching means forpositively connecting it therefrom, whereby several machines can beoperated simultaneously to insert rivets in a single piece of work, forthe purpose described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of aplurality of separate complete riveting machines, each having a pilotpin and riveting plunger at the top, said pilot pins being located atpredetermined distances apart, with the pilot pins in alignment, saidpilot pins engaging in preformed openings in a single piece of Workconsisting of a wood member and a metal member to locate the two memberswith respect to said riveting plungers and enable the plungers to unitethe wood and metal, a treadle for each riveting machine, means forconnecting each treadle with one plunger for operating it, whereby themachine can be operated to insert rivets accurately in a single piece ofwork, for the purpose described.

HERBERT W. NEUNHERZ.

